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Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, (AYDM), a coalition of 130 Pan Yoruba groups has commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state and his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat for the unique initiative and decision to officially grant electricity distribution licenses to two new Distribution Companies.
The group described the initiative as the most important public interest decision in Lagos since 1999, stating that it represent a ‘radical departure from’ gross corporate irresponsibility to a new frontier in the search for energy stability in Lagos State with far reaching implication on the South West and Nigeria.
According to a statement after its Executive Council meeting on Monday, signed by Popoola Ajayi, AYDM Secretary and Kunle Oshodi, Mobilisation Director, Sanwo-Olu and his team have written their names in history.
AYDM stated that it was not enough to register new DISCOs but that the State and Federal Government should probe the owners of DISCOs for their crime against the people.
The group said the AYDM and other civil society organisations would push for sanctions on the managers of the DISCOs by the international community by documenting their crimes, saying that many people have died due to the activities of DISCOS in Lagos either in hospitals due to abrupt disconnection or through power surges that have led to the burning of many buildings where people lost their lives and property or through target attacks on property of energy users.
“Lagos and the people of the South West are praying for the Government of Lagos State for this bold step. The people have been subjected to the most horrendous crimes inflicted on innocent energy users by existing DISCOs who lack human conscience and driven only by primitive and ungodly accumulation of wealth,”
The group described the former DISCOs as conscious economic saboteurs, urging the new DISCOs not to repeat the gross misconduct of their predecessors stressing that AYDM is ready to work with them to reclaim lost public confidence.
It also urged the Lagos State Government to explore cleaner energy possible from the tonnes of waste generated daily in the State.
The Lagos State Government had registered Excel Distribution Company and the IE Energy Lagos Limited marking a major shift from energy misery to a new opportunity for the people and the Lagos industrial hub.
The new companies will now take over Eko Electricity Distribution PLC and Ikeja Electric PLC
The coalition stated that the decision to register new DISCOs will save business and industries from the fringe of collapse.
“When there is no efficient electricity, businesses, health and industrial growth will suffer while social and night economy will crumble. This has been the situation in Lagos. Millions of electricity users are sidelined by arrogant bullies who parade themselves as business operators but who lack any iota of human compassion but motivated by cruel zeal for profit,”
Ajayi said that the group and several groups including labour and Community Development Associations, (CDAs) wrote series of complaints to the existing DISCOs but that the feedback was arrogance and contempt for the people.
